For the first month of summer vacation, my mother kept my twin sons. They enjoyed and she loved it. Bedtimes were irrelevant so were the hours they decided to get out of bed to start their day. Breakfast foods were eaten at midday and kid channels reigned on the television. She reveled in being with them and having lax rules that most grandparents allow.
For the second month, however, we signed them up for summer camp. They were not happy about it. In fact, they vowed not to have fun. Not to enjoy it. Not to participate in any capacity so that we could full understand their discontent with being taken from their comfort zone.
I was honestly worried about how they would behave on their first day. Would they get in trouble from acting out? Would they embarrass us? What if the director asked them not to come back? Lots of worrisome thoughts ran through my head.
When I picked them up after the first day, they bolted toward me talking over each other detailing how much fun they’d had. In the car, their conversations continued… until they fell asleep. Exhausted. Being awakened to walk into the house didn’t affect them either. They walked straight to the bed, climbed in – shoes and all.
Have you ever been like my sons – not wanting to do something and soon falling in love with it, so much so, that the experience is exhausting in the wonderful way?
There was a time when I was like that with new things; whether it was volunteering, reading a book, or joining a ministry at church. The hesitancy at trying something new quickly faded once I saw what was waiting for me. The first step, however, was giving it a chance. Sometimes, the flat-out refusal to leave your comfort zone stifles any potential personal development. Sure, the boys would have loved to lay around all summer with Nana watching television (who wouldn’t?) but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for them to grow socially, physically and emotionally with their peers.
I miss that fire that burned when I had a new hobby. I wanted the level of excitement in my voice when telling my husband about my new “thing” that my sons had when told me about their day at summer camp. I’m starting to think I’ve become boring. Why haven’t I done anything new lately? Seriously, how many episodes of Family Feud can one watch?
Sure, there are many legitimate personal responsibilities that keep us from expanding our horizons. Work. Family. And, of course, previous obligations. (Did I mention previous obligations?) My plate, like yours, is full enough.
I’m not boring. I’m busy. I’m good just like I am… or am I? Could I be doing more? Surely I’m not completely developed.
Is there a project so enthralling that I am completely drawn in and can’t enough of it? Is there something out there that could become my new obsession? Okay, maybe not an obsession but something so enjoyable I wonder why I didn’t do it before.
Maybe it’s time to turn off the television and use what little free time I have pour my energy into something new. Besides, the boys shouldn’t be the only ones jumping for joy in the house.
And, when I find that new “thing” that I’m so off-the-wall, totally excited about, I’m already looking forward to the nap that follows being completed exhausted by it.
For the second month, however, we signed them up for summer camp. They were not happy about it. In fact, they vowed not to have fun. Not to enjoy it. Not to participate in any capacity so that we could full understand their discontent with being taken from their comfort zone.
I was honestly worried about how they would behave on their first day. Would they get in trouble from acting out? Would they embarrass us? What if the director asked them not to come back? Lots of worrisome thoughts ran through my head.
When I picked them up after the first day, they bolted toward me talking over each other detailing how much fun they’d had. In the car, their conversations continued… until they fell asleep. Exhausted. Being awakened to walk into the house didn’t affect them either. They walked straight to the bed, climbed in – shoes and all.
Have you ever been like my sons – not wanting to do something and soon falling in love with it, so much so, that the experience is exhausting in the wonderful way?
There was a time when I was like that with new things; whether it was volunteering, reading a book, or joining a ministry at church. The hesitancy at trying something new quickly faded once I saw what was waiting for me. The first step, however, was giving it a chance. Sometimes, the flat-out refusal to leave your comfort zone stifles any potential personal development. Sure, the boys would have loved to lay around all summer with Nana watching television (who wouldn’t?) but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for them to grow socially, physically and emotionally with their peers.
I miss that fire that burned when I had a new hobby. I wanted the level of excitement in my voice when telling my husband about my new “thing” that my sons had when told me about their day at summer camp. I’m starting to think I’ve become boring. Why haven’t I done anything new lately? Seriously, how many episodes of Family Feud can one watch?
Sure, there are many legitimate personal responsibilities that keep us from expanding our horizons. Work. Family. And, of course, previous obligations. (Did I mention previous obligations?) My plate, like yours, is full enough.
I’m not boring. I’m busy. I’m good just like I am… or am I? Could I be doing more? Surely I’m not completely developed.
Is there a project so enthralling that I am completely drawn in and can’t enough of it? Is there something out there that could become my new obsession? Okay, maybe not an obsession but something so enjoyable I wonder why I didn’t do it before.
Maybe it’s time to turn off the television and use what little free time I have pour my energy into something new. Besides, the boys shouldn’t be the only ones jumping for joy in the house.
And, when I find that new “thing” that I’m so off-the-wall, totally excited about, I’m already looking forward to the nap that follows being completed exhausted by it.
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